Mandela's visits to U.S. left indelible impressions

Dec. 6, 2013
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The Empire State Building rises into the evening sky lit in the colors of the South African Flag to observe the passing of former South African President and Civil Rights leader Nelson Mandela, Friday, Dec. 6, 2103 in New York. / Bebeto Matthews, AP

by Donna Leinwand Leger, USATODAY

by Donna Leinwand Leger, USATODAY

Nelson Mandela visited the United States as a newly freed opposition leader, as South Africa's first black president and finally as an elder statesman. Each time, in each city, those who met him -- or merely caught a glimpse of him -- say he left a profound impression.

Mandela's journeys spanned the nation from New York to Los Angeles. In the early years, he came to raise money to boost the African National Congress' chances in South African elections.

In the later years, he came to accept awards and honors, from the key to New York City to an honorary degree from Amherst College. He hobnobbed with politicians at the highest levels of government and greeted worshipers at humble southern churches.

He called presidents and movie stars friends. He spoke at Yankee Stadium, high schools and even opened the Tribeca Film Festival.

People who witnessed his speeches say his warm countenance and dignified bearing offered the hope for harmony in cities still struggling with racial strife and comforted the grieving country after the Sept. 11, 2001.

Mandela's visit to New York following the terrorist attacks and his visit to Ground Zero "helped give our city strength and hope, for which we will be forever grateful," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

Here are some of the highlights:

1990

Mandela arrived in New York in June, four months after his release from prison, to a ticker tape parade organized by New York City Mayor David Dinkins. During the six-week fundraising tour for the African National Congress, Mandela visited New York, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles and Oakland.

In New York, he spoke to a sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium and attended a concert at Riverside Church.

New York City Mayor Elect Bill DeBlasio, who attended Mandela's speech at Yankee Stadium said Mandela thanked the people of the United States for not abandoning the struggle to end apartheid.

"We came to believe in his fight for justice as if it were our own," he said.

In Boston, he spoke to students at Madison Park High School in Roxbury before heading to a luncheon under a tent on the Charles River with political elites where then-Sen. Ted Kennedy and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis greeted him.

Former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who met Mandela at a luncheon, recalled his gaze.

"When we shook hands, he looked me directly in the eye for several moments and broke into a broad smile," she said. "He made me feel like I was the only one under the tent."

Hundreds of thousands of people filled the Charles River Esplanade to greet him.

Raymond Flynn was mayor at the time and told WBUR, a public radio station in Boston, he will never forget the moment.

"It was the first time that I recall standing and looking out at a massive audience and seeing white and black, young and old, people from the neighborhoods, people from the suburbs," Flynn said. "It was almost like a Celtics celebration, only this had a greater significance than even that."

As Mandela stepped off the plane into a throng of Detroit dignitaries, it was civil rights leader Rosa Parks that he rushed to hug.

"Mandela and his wife were just thrilled to meet her," said U.S. Appeals Court Judge Damon Keith, who witnessed the encounter. "Of all the people there to greet him, the one who stood out to him was Rosa Parks."

At Mandela's final U.S. stop, 58,000 people packed the Oakland Coliseum to hear his speech.

1991

Mandela spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in December and gave the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation Distinguished Lecture at the University of Pittsburgh.

1992

Mandela appeared before the United Nations National Security Council in New York to request that the UN appoint a special representative to help quell the violence that had erupted in South Africa, demand the release of political prisoners and repeal laws meant to repress South African blacks.

1993

Mandela campaigned across the country for two weeks, stopping in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Los Angeles, to raise money for African National Congress candidates in the upcoming South African elections

On July 4, 1993, he accepted The Liberty Medal along with South African President F.W. de Klerk at Independence Hall in Philadelphia from President Bill Clinton.

He spent two days in Atlanta where he made fundraising appearances at black churches, including Cascade United Methodist Church and Antioch Baptist Church North. He stayed at the Ritz Carlton, lunched with Coca Cola's top managers, stopped by CNN for an interview, visisted the Southern Christian Leadership Conference office and accepted an honorary degree from Clark Atlanta University, the Atlantic Journal Constitution reported at the time.

In October, he returned to Washington, D.C. to accept the inaugural J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding. The Fulbright association noted "his personal courage and selfless determination to eliminate racial and political barriers in South Africa and for his work to focus international attention on the divisive practices that were part of the daily lives of South Africans of all races."

1994

In October, as South Africa's newly elected president, Mandela made his first state visit to the United States, which included a State Dinner and visits with President Bill Clinton. He stopped in New York and visited with Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

He spoke on Oct. 7 at a sold out luncheon in the ballroom of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. 1994 National Press Club President Gil Klein recalled the bedlam that surrounded Mandela as admirers sought to shake his hand or speak with him.

"What I remember most about Nelson Mandela was his inner peace, his perfect calmness. There was turmoil all around him. It didn't bother him," Klein wrote in a recollection of the event.

1998

Mandela, in his final visit to the U.S. as South Africa's president, spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in September and at New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine. He also accepted an honorary doctorate from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., and the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington.

2001

In November, Mandela visited Ground Zero, the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and offered words of comfort to New Yorkers. He gave the Annual Sadat Lecture for Peace at University of Maryland and attended the Mosaic Foundation benefit dinner at Saudi Arabia's ambassador's residence where he joked about being unemployed.

"I increasingly find myself these days having to thank people for their generosity and consideration towards an unemployed old pensioner," he said. "Tonight is no exception. You had the good common sense to recognize that a person in that category may be in need of a good dinner from time to time."

2002

Mandela, in New York to address the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, also opened the First Annual Tribeca Film Festival at New York's City Hall at the invitation of Robert DeNiro, whom he called a friend.

2005

Bloomberg presented Mandela with a key to the city. Bloomberg said in a statement that Mandela spoke "passionately about the work of his foundation and his ongoing efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic and many other important issues."

Mandela received an honorary degree addressed the students and faculty of Amherst College at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City on May 12.